2013 Keermont, Terrasse, Stellenbosch, South Africa
Critics reviews
I first visited Keermont back in 2011, I hooked up with Alex Starey at the winery in the Blaauklippen Valley. I have been a fan ever since. Mark and Monica Wraith’s 27-hectare vineyard located within their 155-hectare estate is predominantly devoted to Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon and the Keermont proprietary wine debuting with the 2007. It has since been joined by a white Chenin Blanc and most recently, a sweet wine that I am eager to try myself. This is one of the new breed of South African producers that is moving the country forward with accomplished, refined expressions of Stellenbosch wine, so good that they make you wonder why you ever lavished all that money on expensive northern Rhones. If you want to see the new South Africa and catch a glimpse of what the future beholds, then look no further than Keermont.
Neal Martin - Wine Advocate 209 Oct 2013
About this WINE
Keermont Vineyards
Keermont intends to create wines that reflect the beautiful place from which they come and the particular year’s vintage conditions. The wines are made as naturally as possible with very little vineyard irrigation and minimal intervention in the winery.
The estate has been owned by the Wraith family since 2003. Two thousand and five saw the start of a significant vineyard-planting programme on lands that had been fallow for several years. Seventeen hectares were planted over four years to add to an existing eight hectares of older vineyards. Keermont’s official maiden vintage came in 2007.
The farm is high up in the picturesque Blaauwklippen Valley, or Paradyskloof (Paradise Valley) in South Africa. Due to the steepness of the terrain, the altitude climbs 200m within the 1.7km length of the farm, and the vineyards are planted between 250m and 400m above sea level. Thus, the vines planted over these different terrains produce wines with good complexity and various flavors. In addition, the proximity to False Bay and the Indian Ocean also moderates the climate in the vineyard.
Winemaker Alex Starey oversees the vineyards and makes the estate’s wines. Employed at the start of the redevelopment of the farm in 2005, he has traveled and worked in wine regions, including Maipo Valley in Chile, Penedès and Priorat in Spain, and St-Emilion and Côte-Rôtie in France.
Stellenbosch
Stellenbosch is South Africa’s best-known wine region, producing a wide variety of wines from leading estates, even though it accounts for less than 20 per cent of the country’s total production. Designated wards within the wine region are Jonkershoek Valley, Simonsberg-Stellenbosch, Bottelary, Devon Valley and Papegaaiberg.
At 17,500 hectares, Stellenbosch remains the Cape's most famous and important fine wine district, thanks to its proximity to Cape Town, to the cooling influences of False Bay, its mountainous (ie Helderberg, Simonsberg), granitic topography and its centres of learning such as Elsenburg Agricultural College.
It's notable for the refinement of its Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay, especially from the likes of Glenelly Estate, Keermont Vineyards Oldenburg Vineyards, Raats Family and Anwilka
Other Varieties
There are over 200 different grape varieties used in modern wine making (from a total of over 1000). Most lesser known blends and varieties are traditional to specific parts of the world.
Buying options
Add to wishlist
Description
The name ‘Terrasse’ is derived from the terraced vineyards in the Stellenbosch mountains from which the grapes are harvested. The core of this blend is Chenin Blanc; however it is complimented by Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc and Viognier. The wine is fermented in French Oak barrels and spends a further twelve months on its lees prior to bottling. The nose is fresh and appealing with notes of citrus peel, hazelnut and salted caramel. The palate is soft on entry but there’s a good acidic backbone which gives the wine freshness and length. There is a gorgeous mouth-feel and concentrated stone fruit notes which leave one thirsty for another glass.
Nicholas Stewart, Fine Wine Account Manager
wine at a glance
Delivery and quality guarantee